From the News

Dated:

NORTH TORONTO

NEWSPAPER MEN TOUR FLYING CORPS CAMPS

Million Dollars Spent Equipping Leaside and Ridley for Training Cadets.

North Toronto, August 11. -- The Imperial Royal Flying Corps of Toronto have at last lifted their rigid press censorship, and today press representatives were taken on a motor tour of inspection through the aviation camps.  Major Allan and a party of flight lieutenants accompanied the newspaper men to the two splendid aviation camps in the North Toronto district at Ridley Park¹ and Leaside.

More than a million dollars has been spent in equipping these camps with hangars, offices, buildings, and the necessary water and sewerage systems.  The cars sped down the fine asphalt roads to the camps from Yonge street, built in record time by Bate and MacMahon, English contractors for the Government.

While inspecting the forty or fifty aeroplanes at each camp, the flight lieutenants explaining the interesting features of flying, and of the training that is given in photography,  wireless work, and in bomb dropping.

They told how regular courses are given at the University of Toronto in telegraphy, aeronautics, etc.  "The cadets find the work most interesting, and prefer it, in spite of the risks, to the drudgery of infantry drill," they said.

At each camp there is a hospital and Red Cross ambulance.  If the case is serious, the man is sent to the Base Hospital.²  A convalescent hospital at Longwood was also shown to the party.

An army of mechanics is required and are kept very busy at each camp, testing and repairing machines.  A breakdown gang drives up to every fallen machine and destroys or salvages the remains.  Usually little trustworthy material is left.

The party were also shown the recruiting station at Leaside.  Men are coming in every day.  There are no restrictions now as to educational standing of applicants for flying.